Ana Gold drives in four and Keilani Ricketts locks it down as Blaze erupt late to take rubber match 10-2
Sundays Are for Rubber Matches
After the Talons won their earlier showdown over the Bandits, the second Sunday rubber match came down to the Blaze and the Volts. For the Volts, this one meant more than just a series win. It was about staying in the hunt with the Bandits.
The Blaze have turned into one of the most dangerous teams in the second half, showing that again with a fiery and relentless performance today.
Gold Strikes First
Mariah Mazón got the start for the Volts while Alana Vawter opened for the Blaze. Both tossed clean first innings, but things changed fast in the second. Ana Gold, who has been a force in the Blaze lineup all season, led off with a solo blast to left field to give the Blaze a 1-0 lead.
That would be Mazón’s only blemish. The Volts handed the ball to Samantha Show to begin the third.
Show gave up a single to Aliyah Binford and walked Kalei Harding, but Jessi Warren bailed her out with one of the best defensive plays you will see. She tagged third and fired to first for a double play that kept the Blaze off the board.
Ricketts Returns and Dominates
The Blaze turned to Keilani Ricketts in the bottom of the third, and she came out firing. Ricketts struck out the side and immediately gave the Blaze the spark they have missed in the circle.
Jessi Warren stayed hot defensively in the fourth. Kayla Kowalik lined one her way and Warren doubled off Gold at first with ease. That is the type of play Warren has made her whole career dating back to her days at Florida State.
The Volts got something going in the bottom half. Sierra Romero doubled over Harding’s head in right and moved to third on a sac bunt by Coffey. Warren was hit by a pitch, and the Volts had runners at the corners.
Romero scored on a Mulipola fielder’s choice to tie it at 1. That would be the last time it was close.
Blaze Take Over
The top of the fifth started with a bang. Devyn Netz, who came over from the Bandits, crushed a leadoff homer to left to put the Blaze back on top 2-1. Show hit McKenzie Clark with a pitch, and that was it for her outing.
Payton Gottshall entered for her third straight game and quickly rolled a 4-6-3 double play to end the frame. Despite that, the Blaze were heating up.
Gottshall returned for the sixth but ran into trouble. Korbe Otis led off with a single. Leach reached on an error by Romero. Baylee Klingler, playing back home at Washington, smoked an RBI double to score Otis. Ana Gold kept it going with a single up the middle to bring home Leach, making it 4-1.
Gottshall would head to the dugout as Sam Landry reentered. But things kept going the wrong direction.
A wild throw by Mulipola trying to catch Gold stealing let Klingler take home, pushing it to 5-1. Then McKenzie Clark delivered the knockout blow, a two-run shot to left that made it 7-1.
Blaze Keep Pouring It On
Emma Lemley came in for the Blaze in the bottom of the sixth and shut the door. Three up, three down, including a strikeout looking to Danieca Coffey.
The Blaze offense was not finished. In the seventh, Otis roped a single off the wall. Leach walked and another pitching change brought Gottshall back in.
Klingler walked to load the bases, and Ana Gold came through again. She ripped a 2RBI single off the wall in left, making it 9-1. A fielder’s choice from Netz and a Volts throwing error allowed another run to score. It was 10-1 Blaze.
Mulipola would get one back in the bottom half, launching her first home run of the season down the left field line to make it 10-2. That was it.
Final Thoughts
What a dominant performance from the Blaze. A tight 2-1 game broke wide open with eight runs over the final two innings. The Blaze outhit the Volts 10 to 3 and never let up.
The Volts continue to search for answers offensively. They have had their pitching here and there throughout the season, but they just have not been able to string together enough quality at-bats to win.
Keilani Ricketts was outstanding in relief, going three innings with just one hit and four strikeouts. Her return has changed the energy in the Blaze’s circle.
Ana Gold was the engine today. She finished a perfect 3-for-3 with a home run, four RBIs, and two runs scored. The Blaze are catching fire in the second half of the season.
